We are Made in God's Image

 "There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."

~Albert Einstein

 

 How to be happy with your lot. The Torah says for each individual to be happy with what he has and not to want. The Hebrew Psalm 23 says "Adonai is my shepherd; I shall not want." To want what another possesses is actually in disobedience of the Commandment that says: "Do Not Covet." Do not covet and do not want are two of the same. To be happy where you are; to be happy in the moment, is the key to being a spiritual person and the key to happiness and will eliminate anxiety--no worries about the future.

 

On Shabbat, I do not spend money; but I make sure every Shabbat gives me what I want that I do not allow myself during the weekdays. I take that extra bite of a sugar cookie on Shabbat--this will make my Shabbat very special. Shabbat is the time to fulfill all of one's wants. It is time to rest, yes, but it is also time to indulge--not indulge in work or creative pursuits, but to indulge in what will bring on a feeling that one is honoring Adonai--praising and worshipping Him.

 

There are conscious decisions one needs to make to get spiritual happiness: "To be self-aware, to be humble, to use your ability to choose, to be patient, to make the most of circumstances, to improve, to be compassionate, to have perspective, to have purpose, to search for truth, and to change," writes Rabbi Twerski, MD.

 

One must admit mistakes and be aware of one's shortcomings, to want to be a better person. The way one behaves is in one's control: you can be in charge of your behavior. A person should laugh and smile as often as s/he gets the chance. To know what your character defects are and to work on them. To take these defects one by one and to change them. To make lemonade out of all the lemons in your life. To overcome negative characteristic traits. To not be afraid of being a spiritual person, and let your imagination take you to God--no one has ever seen the face of God, (and lived), but one can use his imagination and pretend God looks like anyone you want Him to look like. We as Jews, are not to see God being Jesus, but we can see Him in the human form, a real Friend, a real Teacher with a human face. We can see God in the faces of everyone we meet. Look for the divine spark of life in the twinkle of someone's eye. We as humans are made in the image of God--which means God looks like us. Yes, 2 eyes, 2 ears, a nose and a mouth. We are to use God as a mentor and be like God: good, peaceful, not easy to anger, forgiving--all these positive characteristics.

 

One should protect oneself and family from anti-spiritual influences: like humiliation of one's creative forces. In other words, don't let someone ridicule you and tell you that you are childish because you want to play the violin, or draw a picture. Creativity is good--like God who created the world we are also supposed to create and be creative. Creativity is a key to happiness. It is not a fault or a shortcoming. There are people who are jealous of creative people and who are so uncreative themselves that they cannot even imagine what God looks like. God is giving us a choice to see Him as anything and anyway we want to see Him. Use your imagination and yes, picture God. Go a step further and listen to God.

People complain that their parents didn't guide them well enough. Putting all the blame on their parents--but one needs to look for God to be one's Guide, not your parents--unless you think that what your parents would do, is right for you to do as well. You cannot see or feel love, but it is there, God is someone we cannot see blatantly either--but like love is there, God is there too. Did you just taste a sweet delicious cookie? That sweetness was put into your mouth by God. Yes, and do not be afraid to talk about God with those in your religion. Talking about God will bring Him alive too. Religion itself will not bring you happiness, it is where you take what you learn in the Torah (Bible) and what you do with it that will make you happy. And spread this happiness around to others. Learn to laugh more, consciously cause yourself to laugh. Laughing will make you happy, and it will make others happy as well.
 

The bottom line is to listen to God at all times, if what He wants you to do is good, He will help you with it and it will make you happy. Follow the 613 Commandments because this is His guide for us. Yes, Baruch Atah Adonai. It is You God, You are number One--and there is no other God but You. Keep this philosophy and you will not fail. Rest on Shabbat, as God rested too. You will be invigorated and refreshed for the coming week. Keep your nose to the grindstone, but not on Shabbat. Aren't we extra lucky! We have Shabbat and we have God. Anyway we want to. This is the freedom of choice and freedom of religion as we have it in the United States of America. Use your choices, use your imagination--and laugh and rest. It is that easy! 

Finding Happiness is a Miracle

 "There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."

~Albert Einstein

 

How do I make myself happy? First and foremost, I follow the kosher dietary laws of the Torah and Mishnah. And I have many other secrets too. Gratitude is the key to happiness. To be thankful for every little thing you have or that comes your way--to make lemonade out of lemons, to give gratitude to God for it all. What is in front of you? A beautiful white snow bank? Appreciate it for its pureness and coolness, and its sculptural formation. Yes, even in the freezing temps of winter, one can be thankful for something that God is showing us. A window? Reflections in the glass that show the colors of a prism? Be thankful for that window--it is a rainbow. Do you have clean hands and lotion? Be thankful for your soap and for the perfumed scent of your lotion. Smell it frequently. And be thankful every time your nose sniffs a delightful smell. Who are you thankful to? To God. To
Adonai. Be it man-made beauty or natural beauty--all of it is given to you through your eyes, ears, nose, and throat--your senses: which Adonai created within your body--the gratitude for your senses goes to Adonai. Brushing your teeth with a minty toothpaste--thank God for that. Breathe in some fresh air and relax and taste the mint after brushing your teeth. Do not take it all for granted--that is the sure fire way to depression. Give someone a gift, get some exercise, pet a dog, wear fashionable clothing, go to your synagogue or church. Throw a party. Attend a class or lecture. Sing a song. Bake a cake. Water a plant. Find employment for yourself or for a friend. One must marvel at everything, not with the aid of drugs or alcohol, but with gratitude towards God. What makes you happy? If your senses are stimulated with beauty,

good smells, nice tastes, the sound of beautiful music, or the actions of doing mitzvot for someone--good deeds--these things make one happy. Learning something new or teaching something to someone makes me happy. Reading something profound makes me happy. Getting an email from a friend makes me happy. My appreciation goes out to You, Adonai. Find something in everything you are exposed to, to make yourself happy. Truth, justice and peace makes me happy--I love being exposed to the goodness of it all. Be generous and give--it will bring you happiness. And this incredible amount of happiness is all under your control--it is a miracle to be so happy--so peaceful. Whatever you see that could be lemonade instead of lemons--go for it! Turn around the bad and create good. If in a crowd of unworthy people--one must strive to be the worthy one. Follow the 613 Commandments and it will make you happy. Be creative, look creatively for ways to find happiness. Strive for happiness--go get it!

This Week Shabbat Started on a Friday Morning

 "There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."

~Albert Einstein

 

Today, on Friday before Shabbat, I had one thing in mind and that was to pursue peace, justice and truth. Today was a miracle in that I tried the Messianic goal of having a Shabbat, or close to a Shabbat on a Friday including tomorrow which  is a Saturday, (when the Messiah comes everyday will be a Shabbat). 

 

The sun is going down now and the real Shabbat is starting. The cold icy sky of Chicago's winter is getting gray in color and soon will be alive with reds and pinks and purples of a sunset just before Shabbat. I knew I had it in my abilities to obey truth, justice, and peace--and I did it. I have committed no sins today. I have no reason to do teshuvah today, no reason to ask for forgiveness. I was rewarded tonight by Adonai in that I was trusted by someone who had a very hard time trusting me in the past. Today this person just gave me her total trust and I was able to fulfill her expectations. If communicating with warring people just takes away my peace of mind--then there will be no more communication with them. Shabbat will ease into every day of the week in spots, and not just be contained on a Saturday. Peace is my goal and I will obey the 10 Commandments plus the 613 Commandments in order to get this daily peace. We as Jews are obligated to recite prayers everyday--and my prayers were answered today. This was a miracle in my life. Todah rabbah, Adonai.

Every Drawing I Create is a Miracle--a Gift from God

 "There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."

~Albert Einstein

 

It is a miracle in my life that I have the chutzpah to create art. Many people go into media or design instead of fine art because it is so difficult to make a living on fine art. And because they just are not creative enough to give it a try--one needs an imagination to create fine art. It is not easy; but it is great fun. If you can think of expressing yourself like no one has done before, you deserve to be called an artist.

 

Being an artist is a lifestyle--someone who can stop and smell the flowers no matter what. An artist has to believe in her/himself. S/he has to believe that what she is doing is going to make someone

happy, even if it is only the artist who becomes happy. 

 

Creating color is a talent that not everyone can manage. It takes constant exercising of the right side of the brain--it is not the same side of the brain that computes math or science. Some people, true artists have greatly developed right sides of their brains whereas some people have little or none--those being the non-artists.

 

An artist has to have spare time. Time to make art and dream and visualize in an undisturbed relaxed atmosphere. Visualizations on paper are gold mines. If the artist visualizes with an original mind, the work is that much more valuable.

 

An artist is a fun person, a revolutionary, someone who dares to not go mainstream. Someone who at the risk of being called "odd" will still pursue his craft and have a good time at doing it. This is where the chutzpah comes in. Do you dare make art? It is a miracle in my life that I have found a place where I can do my
drawings and be self-employed as an artist--having 24 hours to pursue my craft everyday. Todah rabbah Adonai for this miracle. I love colors and beautiful things. And I get to create them myself. How blessed I feel because of this miracle. Every drawing I create is a miracle to me. It is like giving birth to a child. A drawing can be one's best friend--you get to look upon it and breathe in its beauty with your eyes anytime! Thank you Adonai for my talent and imagination. I feel like you have chosen me to make this world a little bit better for all who look upon my artwork. Let all people see something new, something powerful--to see Adonai in every drawing I create. This is my goal.

Todah Rabbah, Adonai!

 "There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."

~Albert Einstein

 

I am feeling deeply in gratitude to Adonai for many many things Adonai has given me and that I take for granted. I am thankful for being in a nice warm large brick-built home with a heater in my bedroom as well as in all the other rooms in my house. Todah rabbah, Adonai. I am also thankful for a working computer so I can email my friends and family and keep writing in my blog. Todah rabbah, Adonai. I am so glad that I am getting all completely kosher meals everyday, 3x per day, with kosher snacks, and getting my 2,000 calorie diet per day in a certified kosher fashion. Todah rabbah, Adonai. I am really thankful for getting my medicines that I need to keep up my health so I feel good and active and healthy. I waited 3 years to get a medicine and it was imperative that I got it and I finally found a doctor to prescribe it and it is paid for and readily available to help me. I am so thankful for this. I am thankful that I have 1x per week contact with my Rabbi and that I pray everyday with my Synagogue's siddurs. Todah rabbah, Adonai. I am really in gratitude to Adonai for giving me chutzpah: I find out what I need to know and I use it to help myself and to help others. I am a research expert and I also talk to many people to get answers to my questions and this all builds up my wisdom. Todah rabbah, Adonai. Thank you Adonai for curiosity and wisdom--for cho-achma. Todah rabbah, Adonai! Todah rabbah, Adonai! Todah rabbah, Adonai!!

365 (not just 8) Days of Hanukkah Miracles

 "There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."

~Albert Einstein

 

A miracle happened to me over the holiday winter season of 2013-14. I converted to Judaism 2 years ago, and while I was studying and studying to know all about the religion, I still could not say I was a Jew--because I had not converted by mikvah yet--even though I had a Jewish soul and felt like a Jew, I did  not become official until after my beit din mikvah bath at the Synagogue in Wilmette. After my mikvah--things changed--and there was a miracle that happened in my life.
 

The miracle that I experienced was getting all Hanukkah cards in the mail instead of Christmas cards. Not one of my Christian friends sent me a Christmas card. I received the most beautiful Hanukkah cards in the mail instead. My sister sent me a gorgeous blue-ish colored card that said "Bright and happy days to you at Hanukkah and always." My cousin sent me a turquoise colored card that says Happy Hanukkah on the front and inside it says "8 Days to Celebrate!!" My mother sent me a Season's Greetings card and on the inside it says "Wishing you every happiness this holiday season and throughout the coming year."

 

I saw carolers during the holidays and when they finished singing Christmas songs, they afterwards came up to me and said to me "Happy Hanukkah!" I wear a yamulkhe and a tallit katan in public and so am dressed obviously as a Jew--and received the nicest Hanukkah greetings from everyone. I lighted a large electric menorah that was in our front window each of the 8 nights, and it shone brilliantly and boldly in the night; warming up all who looked at it.

 

Yes, this year--Hanukkah was my personal miracle all 8 days of its length. On these days my own light shone forth; and I was as happy as could be--seeing miracles happening everywhere--all 8 days and after that too. We as Jews do not hate Christmas; and we do not hate people who are less religious than ourselves; and we love being greeted appropriately with a great big giant and smiley "Happy Hanukkah!!!"

Thanks to everyone who made my Hanukkah as happy as can be.

Windows to Wonderland

"There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."

~Albert Einstein

 

I lived in a house and the room I had as my bedroom had no windows. It was a terrible way to spend an evening not looking out at a sky and not being able to see stars at night--nothing--just 4 closed in walls and no view of the outside, no idea of what was to come. I had developed claustrophobia; I had to keep my bedroom door open at all times.

Then I moved to a place in Chicago on the 6th floor of  high rise and my view out my window was the Great Lake Michigan. I saw the sunrise over the lake every morning and it was glorious. I naturally awoke as the great big red ball snuck over the horizon on the lake and I watched it rise and rise until it became late morning. It splattered its golden light onto the lake and as the waves came in, the golden shimmering dazzled my eyes. It was greater than anything I had ever seen.

Now, I have a view from the first floor of the sky and watch the sun move from the east to the west--no more lake but all puffy cloud after cloud, the tops of trees in the distance, and I see small light snowflakes falling very clearly--one snowflake at a time. It is another great view--my window is a large picture window, and I can feel warm on a cold day--because the warmth coming from my heater warms me up, as the snowflakes come down one at a time. It is a cold scene, but I do not know the cold anymore, next door to me is a friend, and he took all the blizz out of the blizzards. I read a book about small miracles today--a book my friend gave me--and I know these new views out my windows are miracles. I no longer have a room without a view, and this is an incredible miracle in my life. 

Honor Your Father and Mother

"There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."

~Albert Einstein

 

Honor thy Father and Mother. It is as simple as that. Or is it that simple? My father passed away 23 years ago; but I honor him with my life. I am a Jew just like my father was and this is how I honor him. I chant 3 services per day: the Shacharit, Mincha, and Ma'ariv Services and whenever I read my Torah Chumash or my siddur I honor my father. He is the impetus to me for doing my Jewish rituals and contacting my synagogue congregational community. I contact my Jewish community around Jewish Holidays and wish everyone a good time at the holiday. I am part of these communities and I have my father to thank for upholding his Judaism and staying a Jew all my life and all his life. He never wavered and I also stay strong in my religion. I have him to thank as my good example.

 

My phone calls with my Rabbi are so important to me. She told me the perfect way to honor my mother was to honor her for giving me life. Without my mother going through childbirth and childrearing I would not be alive. My mother said she worked at her job to pay for my art education when I was attending college for my BFA. I know she always worked hard and I am thankful that she did this for me. Most of all, I am thankful to Adonai that she is still alive at the age of 87 years. I honor her when we are apart; I think of her fondly with love all the time.

 

Yes, honor your parents: both your  father and mother. Have a fear of their authority and this will help you to fear God; and a love for them will help you to love Adonai.

Every Shabbat Is a Miracle in My Life

"There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."

~Albert Einstein

 

Shabbat is a miracle in my life. It was not until I was in my 40s that I discovered Shabbat. I started attending a Reform Synagogue about 10 years ago in 2003. I never had heard of resting on Shabbat until that time. My interfaith family of origin celebrated Sundays and my mother wanted Saturday to be a work day. My father, unfortunately, did not celebrate his Shabbat on Saturday--he was working on Saturdays AND Sundays. I never had heard of a Saturday holy day before. Sheltered and as uninformed as I was--I always thought Friday night was a time to party, and so was Saturday night--but I never dreamed of resting. Now it is different--my conversion to Judaism changed everything--I have the gift from Adonai and my converting Rabbi to rest one day per week--and that is exactly what I do is rest.

 

I anticipate every Shabbat with adoration during the week--how I love Shabbat! On Fridays for the entire day I look forward to the sun setting--Friday is a time to wait for the sunset. I look up the exact time on Fridays on a weather website when the sun is setting. And I watch my wristwatch and look out the window to see the pink clouds and beautiful sky as the sun sets on Shabbat. After the sun goes down on Friday night--I open my Siddur (prayer book) and begin to pray. And I feel holy and so chosen to be able to do this. I studied Judaism for 10 years and now I am able to rest. I always have a large kosher Shabbat meal on Friday evenings and this starts it off right.

 

I stay away from the marketplace on Shabbat and never spend even a dime. No money transferring at all on Shabbat. I try not to create and I try not to email. I just keep my nose in my siddur and keep lying in bed until I want to lounge around another room in my home--eating kosher foods and snacking at ease, no exercising, and I try my hardest to promote peace with everyone on Shabbat. I treat myself to 2 bites of my favorite candy bar on Shabbat; whereas during the week I only have one bite. It is indeed a very special day! It is the day Adonai stopped creating the world and He rested on this day. Adonai, by example has taught me how to rest!

 

I definitely intentionally do not work at all on Shabbat. It is a complete day of rest. But I do not turn off the lights on Shabbat--I see that as an Orthodox ritual and I am a Conservative Jew and so do not follow Orthodox rituals. I restore my body and mind with a complete siesta, and my whole attitude is to find ways to celebrate and to smile at everyone I meet. I love to laugh on Shabbat and always try to be glad. I try to be kind and polite to everyone I meet, stranger or friend on Shabbat. I also dress in all white on Shabbat. This helps me really feel holy on Shabbat--it is a time to feel holy.

I read the Torah Parashah portion the Sunday one week before Shabbat but review it all through the week and pick up and open the Torah again on Saturday to review it. I try to do mitzvot (good deeds) on Shabbat--to see if there is anyone who needs my help, or just to give a gift to a friend and to see him/her smile and be happy. I try to think of others. I find my good friend who is also Jewish and I make a point of talking Torah with him. We sit in his room and discuss our readings of that week's Parashah, and talk to enlighten each other with our learning.

I do not attend a Synagogue anymore, my chosen temple is one hour away by car, and I do not drive on Shabbat. I do not own a car anymore and do not drive at all anymore. But remotely by computer I am still very active with my congregation. On Mondays I phone my Rabbi and this is how I connect to the clergy 1x per week.

I always eat challah bread on Shabbat and I always chant ha-motzi blessing before eating. And I restrict my music listening to classical music on Shabbat. If that. I sometimes like complete silence to unwind and not to environmentally stimulate myself. And yes, I take an afternoon nap. I always have a date with my couch on Shabbat. I look forward to a special day on Shabbat and I always purposefully make it a special day.

On the Havdalah (end of Shabbat) I do not light a Havdalah candle, (I have a slight case of asthma); but instead I look at my reading light and place my hand and thumb under it to see the shadow on my hand that proves I am not dreaming, and thus I end Shabbat. I do not have real besomim spices to smell but I have a delightful perfumed body lotion I smell. Yes, one can make do and create a pleasant Shabbat and Havdalah even without owning all the appropriate ritual items.

 

Shabbat Shalom to all Israelites--may universal peace be ours always! Every Shabbat is truly a miracle in my life! Enjoy it and always keep it holy, never take a Shabbat for granted. It is our gift from God.

A Brush with Death--Someone Saved My Life

"There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."

~Albert Einstein

 

I had a brush with death--and a friend named Arnie saved my life. Arnie lives in Jerusalem Israel and is the CEO and founder of his own Consulting Co. I met him on Facebook and befriended him. I have 315 mutual friends with Arnie on Facebook. So, how was my life threatened and how did he save my life? Here is the story:

 

I live in a building that locates a vending machine right next to my apartment. In that vending machine that I see every time I walk to the bathroom, are numerous Snickers bars--deadly processed sugar in every candy wrapper.

 

I was buying one Snickers bar per day and became addicted to them. There they were, right next to my apartment! Always in my sight, begging to be purchased and gulped down my throat!

 

Why is there a problem with Snickers Bars? My father loved Snickers bars and he would always bring them home and it was my father's delight and addiction too. Can one inherit an addiction? I would say "yes." Because my father loved Snickers Bars, I attached the memory of my father to the eating of this chocolate bar and psychologically honored my father's memory by snacking on them, remembering him with every deadly bite of this poisonous processed sugar. And wow....are they ever accessible--right outside my door! I do not even have to leave my home and go to a store to get them. Real problem.

 

I do not have diabetes but I once was diagnosed with a high triglycerides problem after a blood test--too much sugar, and on the way to diabetes--just a few more Snickers bars and yes, I would be a diabetic. My father died early--he lived to only 67 years old. My Rabbi once warned me to drop this addiction, to drop processed sugar--that it is a killer. But then along came this vending machine!

 

Anyway, this is how my life was saved: Arnie told me to buy one Snickers bar only per week and cut it into 8 pieces and eat 1 piece on each weekday and 2 pieces on Shabbat. He turned this bad, unhealthy, uncontrollable experience into a healthy AND holy experience. How much better could it get??

 

I now can feel this connection with my father: have only one small, controlled piece of the Snickers bar everyday and honor and celebrate Shabbat with two pieces to celebrate the specialness of Shabbat. I am not in danger this way of getting diabetes, and this small amount of sugar will not destroy my liver or put cavities on my teeth.

What a great idea! My Rabbi and this good man Arnie, saved my life. Yes, this is a miracle in my life--I am so glad I have intelligent, kind, and caring friends. What a gift from Adonai! Todah rabbah, Adonai.

The Blessing of Knowing a Holy Man

"There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."

~Albert Einstein

I have a good friend whose name is Shmuel. That is his first name. Shmuel is the Hebrew form of Samuel. In the Torah, he was the son of Hannah, a prophet and a judge who anointed Saul as the first king of Israel. Hannah prayed and prayed for a son and when Shmuel was born she was fulfilled. My friend's mother prayed for 2.5 years to give birth to him; and she was successful.

The man named Shmuel that I know who is alive today, is a holy man. He wanted me to read an article that was published about him and I did. The article said that Shmuel ignited "Unconditional Love" in a family. He did research and found a friend's long lost brother and he reunited them. The friend had not seen or heard from his long lost brother in over 50 years. When Shmuel did some research online he found this man's brother and wrote him and told him that his brother was a friend of his and that he misses his brother and that they should reunite. The brothers came together and spent lots of missed time with each other until death did they part.

My friend Shmuel is a good man. He wears a tallit katan and a kippah--he says his parents are religious Jews and that he wears it for them. He is very considerate of his parents' feelings. He is a young man--only 29 years old but studied at a Rabbinical High School in France for 5 years. If one wants to know the meaning of a close family--Shmuel's family is a prime example--Shmuel has 9 siblings: 9 brothers and sisters. I think coming from a large family gives him a lot of support. It is so nice to know someone whose family means everything to him.

Knowing a "family man" is a real miracle in my life. My father was a family man and so I grew up with this attachment and now 23.5 years after my father's death--I see this family love in another man. It is SO good to see it. May Adonai bless him.

Sweet on Paris Hand and Body Lotion

"There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."

~Albert Einstein

 

There is a body lotion, that was a gift from my sister, that saved my hands from winter cracking, redness, itching, burning, and soreness: it is called Sweet on Paris--yes, those French lotion makers really know how to do it up. This lotion is a miracle in my life. I never had such cracking before this winter, although my hands always feel dry and sore at this time of the year. I used a little Vaseline in the past but this year I was blessed to try this lotion this year and it really cured my hands. My skin was itching and itching because it was dead frost-bitten skin. But not anymore--the itching is gone--I am cured.

The Sweet on Paris lotion is a combo of vitamin E oil, Jojoba oil, Shea butter, and an enticing medley of juicy blackberry, lemon meringue and creamy vanilla, inspired by the sweet temptations of a Parisian Patisserie.

The aroma that comes from this blend of Sweet on Paris is magnificent. It gives off a beautiful scent that smells like chocolate. It is a very strong pungent smell and it fills the room like a perfume that is very strong but not obnoxious. I am very attracted to this smell. I usually become allergic to perfume smells but not this one. It smells like candy.

The color of this Sweet on Paris lotion is a baby blue. It looks very gentle and soft. And to think just a spurt a day will keep the cracks away! I cannot believe how my hands have transformed in only a few days of usage. They now feel like velvet and do not look old, there are no more sores, no more cracks, and I smell heavenly.

This is truly a miracle of miracles--the pain is gone and now I have great hands!

Eating Certified Kosher Meals Everyday

"There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."

~Albert Einstein

 

It is a miracle that I live in a residence where I am being served kosher meals everyday. The meals I am eating are certified and approved kosher.

 

What types of meals? I had kosher veal yesterday; kosher pizza last Saturday night; kosher cranberry-glazed pastrami; cheese blintzes with whipped cream on top. Oooooo every food I am eating is top notch and will not ruin my spirituality as a Jew! I am so thankful to Adonai to be given this opportunity. There is no pork at all kept in our kitchen. The salt and pepper and sugar all have the hechsher on them, and we have challah bread every Friday night and Saturday morning and afternoon. I do a motzei and repeat the Challah bread blessing at every meal, not just on Shabbat.

 

I am not an Orthodox Jew; I am a Conservative Jew. We as Conservative Jews honor Adonai and keep kosher in our eating habits as do the Orthodox Jews.

 

We get warm kosher bagels with kosher cream cheese and kosher jam for breakfast; or we get kosher French toast, kosher eggs, kosher cereal, kosher cow's milk, and many other delicacies.

The dishes are not glass; but they all have been made kosher to eat on. If one eats on glass; this is automatically kosher dishware. If one keeps one's dishes in storage unused for 1 year--they are considered kosher no matter what they are made of. Or dishes and silverware can be boiled in water in pot that is all metal (no wooden handles) and this is a way to make dishes kosher. The blessing of the Shehecheyanu is chanted while the water is boiling the dishes. This blesses the foods that are served in them even further and is significant in keeping kosher (and therefore spiritual) the Jewish way. I am looking forward to each meal that I am served, as a way to keep spiritual, and also to eat a nutritionally balanced diet.

 

 My Synagogue is participating in a project called "The SNAP Project" and many of us Jews will be eating for one week only the gov't given food stamp allotment  that is given to the poor. The reason we are doing this is to show the poor that we care; to offer compassion to them; and to raise money to help them. If one is homeless or jobless, when one cannot financially afford to buy much food--it is almost impossible to keep kosher. Even if one chooses vegan eating and eats no kosher (or non-kosher) meat.

I am so utterly blessed to be getting this kosher food at my residence. This indeed is a miracle of Adonai.

Miriam's Well

"There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."

~Albert Einstein

 

It is a miracle in my life that at my home I have a "Miriam's Well." I have a large 36"H x 24"W Scotsman Touch-free drinking water appliance that filters water and makes ice--it is accessible to me at all times at my new home. It flows with clear room temperature water or I could add filtered ice cubes to it if I want them.

2 months ago I lived across the street from the huge Lake Michigan; but the water in the lake was dirty and not accessible to drink--it was polluted. So much water; water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink!

In my wanderings I came across drinking water  bottles that were labeled kosher. They were expensive--sold in beautiful plastic decorated containers but a pretty penny to buy.  Gas stations carried this kosher water in their food marts; it was more expensive than their soda or juice bottles.

I spent years filling up Brita containers with water and then refrigerating the water. I had to change the filters and keep track of the dates on them.

I am never thirsty anymore--Miriam has blessed me with her well. Now there is "water, water, everywhere" and it is all clean and drinkable and satisfying. I am grateful and thankful to Adonai for this gift.

Angels at the Shabbat Table

"There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."

~Albert Einstein

 

It is a miracle that I am now living in West Rogers Park IL--the village with a Synagogue on every other block. There was no obvious Christmas here in West Rogers Park; but wow, there sure was a Hanukkah! Residents down my block felt safe enough to decorate their houses with Hanukkah decorations and for miles there were lighted menorot in almost everyone's front window.

Christmas vs. Hanukkah? Not a fight I choose to get into. Craig Taubman put it like this: "Jews don’t celebrate Christmas, but there’s nothing Jewish about hating Christmas. Or Christians or Muslims, or people who are less observant or more observant. I see little value in sameness and even less value in baseless hatred. Practice tolerance."

But it is sure good to live in an area that respects Hanukkah and where we are not a minority. Jewish Orthodox Black Hats walk freely down the street here, and I can dress in a tallit katan and a kippah without looking strange or feeling out-of-place.

I am living in a residency that serves only certified kosher foods--all foods in my home are kosher with no exceptions. We have either a dairy meal or a meat meal and they are never served together. The grocery stores in West Rogers Park carry all sorts of certified kosher foods in abundance. I never made it to Israel but I made it here to West Rogers Park IL.! This village is like a "Little Israel" in the USA. My Grandma Celia and Aunt Clara were residents of West Rogers Park also. I remember coming here as a child to visit them, but never thought I would be living here someday too. You just have got to do what you  need to do.

Come to visit the famed West Rogers Park IL. You will be treated as an angel at the Shabbat table!